KP Not Suspending Zimbabwe

August 25, 2009byJCK Magazine

Zimbabwe will not face suspension from the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, despite the alleged ongoing human rights abuses at the Chiadzwa diamond fields, according to a SW Radio Africa report.

According to the report, Bernhard Esau, KP chairman , said last week that Zimbabwe was not being suspended. He also said there were recommendations for a voluntary suspension, but no consensus had been reached.

Zimbabwe’s Parliament has opened an investigation into alleged human rights abuses and illegal activities at the Chiadzwa diamonds fields, according to another news report.

A Kimberley Process review mission visited the country in July and found evidence of human rights abuses and recommended a ban on Zimbabwe’s diamond trading for at least 6 months.

A Human Rights Watch report in June detailed the forced labor, torture and beatings in the diamond fields of Marange, Zimbabwe by the hands of the African nation’s police and army.